The IRL is home to a unique breeding population of inshore bull redfish that often reach 40-pound weights. Photo by Capt. Rodney Smith

Beyond a wide, shallow grassy flat surrounded by deeper blackish water, a threesome of sleek skiffs was moving in on a colossal school of 40-inch-plus redfish that were lolly-gagging on the north Indian River Lagoon's smooth surface. With the guide standing perched atop his poling platform, the lead boat crept slowly within casting distance. The captain then crouched low as he pointed out the massive bunch of finning fish to his two clients on the bow of the skiff. They saw the fish and their excitement was obvious. Their baits softly entered the water and within moments both their rods were bowed and their reels' drags screaming.

Each year, when weather permits, this scenario plays out along the Banana River, Indian River and Mosquito lagoons. Anglers from all over the world come to these lagoons to experience some of our planet's best shallow-water sight-fishing for large red drum. Places like Titusville, Cocoa Beach, Oak Hill and New Smyrna Beach have earned places on the maps of serious redfish anglers.

Most coastal areas have their own nicknames for our favorite inshore catches. Red drum are referred to as bull reds, puppy drum or spottails, but on the Indian River Lagoon, they are simply called redfish.

Their coppery red bodies have earned them their name. However, their most obvious characteristic markings are the black spots located just before the tail fin.

Reds are one of the more recognized fishes in Florida. They are hard fighters and good eating up until they reach about 10 to 15 pounds. The flesh of the larger ones tends to be coarse and strong tasting.

The Indian River Lagoon (IRL) system is composed of the Banana River Lagoon, Mosquito Lagoon and Indian River Lagoon. This system parallels Florida's east-central coast. Its midpoint is located in proximity of Melbourne. From there, it runs north and south for nearly 80 miles each way. The average depth in the IRL system is less than 3 feet, excluding manmade channels and dredged holes.

There are nearly 4,315 different species of life found in the region, including 1,350 plants, 2,956 animals and 310 birds. Additionally, over 700 salt- and freshwater fish species live in these shallow-water lagoons, rivers, creeks and connecting waterways of the IRL system. Thirty-six of these species are classified endangered.

Most important to anglers, the IRL system is inhabited by a mosaic of predatory fishes, including tarpon, grouper, snapper, snook, spotted seatrout and, of course, redfish.

One of the reasons the IRL system is so bountiful is because it is geographically positioned in a transitional area between the temperate and tropical zones. The IRL system has five different inlets to the ocean at Ponce De Leon, Sebastian, Fort Pierce, St. Lucie and Jupiter inlets. This allows tropical species to enter the southern inlets from the nearby Gulf Stream, while the more temperate species, like red drum, enter from the north.

From midsummer to mid-fall, the IRL region typically receives copious rainfall from weather systems approaching from the tropics. October is usually transitional -- a warm, comfortable period sprinkled with hints of the cooler weather about to arrive. Summer's frequent thunderstorms slowly start to fade away as October's days become shorter. The steady, balmy southeast winds of summer slowly shift to a more predominant northeasterly direction as the "Bermuda High" begins to move away. This is the same high-pressure system that each summer usually keeps Florida safe from any cooler weather.